Wireless receiving installation for grand pianos



Aug. 21, 1928. A 1,681,584

J. HATTEMER ET A1.

WIRELESS RECEIVING INSTALLATION FOR GRAND PIANOS Filed May 27, 1924 2 sheets-sheen 1 Aug. 2l, 1928.

- J. HATTEMER ET AL WIRELESS RECEIVING INSTALLATION FOR GRAND PIANOS Filed May 27, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/ENTORSz f ATTOREY.

Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,681,584 PATENT OFFICES JUsrus :HATTEMER OEOLIEESIDE, NEW JERSEY, AND Louis o. EAU-LING, oF .BROOK-v fLYN, NEW YoRK,;AssIGNORs To PREMIER GRAND PIANO CORPORATION, or NEw YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK. f v

WIREEEss REoEIvING INSTALLATION FOR oRANn PIANos.

'Appiiation aidpnay 2i', 1924. serial No. 716,193.

-This invention relates to wireless receiving installations and particularly to a wireless receiving installationwhich is adapted to'v be e'ectually combined withV a musical instrument, such as a'grand piano, andin which,V

while each is adapted' to function independ-` ently ot' the other,one forms part otand is necessarily dependent upon certain features of theother for operation. 1

The primary object of this `inventionyis to enable a wireless receiving installation to` be eii'ectually concealed within the case of a grand piano without outward visible evidence of its presence therein.

A further object is to :enable wirelessreceiving apparatus to be installed jwithin a grand' piano so that it may be bodily 'with- 'drawnv from concealment and presented to view for operation orotherwise without disturbing its Operative connections 'or mechanism.V e v y' A still further object is to enable the case of a grand piano to be utilized as 'a cabinet for wireless receiving apparatus without altering the case. .y e

A still further obj ect is to eii'ectually utilize parts of thegrand piano as a necessaryadjunct or adjuncts of wireless receiving apparatus. o

A still further object is to enable the wireless receiving mechanism to be installed within the music drawer of a player grand piano and to improve the construction of the music -drawer so that it may be etlectually employed for this purpose as well as Vfor its usual purpose as part of the player grand piano, and as well for assisting in the accomplishment of other objects otl this invention. A still further Obj ect is to provide a unitaryelectric connection and unitary electric conducting means for a plurality of electrically operated instruments or mechanism located in combined relationship withina musical instrument case but adapted to be operated selectively through al single sourcek ot electric energy supply. 4

With the above and other objects in view our invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the foltowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which e Figure l is a front elevation of a player grand piano constructed `in accordance with this invention in whichthe wirelessreceiving installation is concealed without outward evidenceof its presence. j

Figure 2`V`is'a side elevation of a player grand piano, partly broken away to illustrate one embodiment ot the concealedwirelessreceiving installation forming part of the grand piano shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the player grand piano .illustratingthe wireless receiving installation in withdrawn or outward position.v

Figure' 4 is a partial side viewA of they playergrand piano as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view ofthe music drawer of a grand' piano illustrating another modification of the construction of the drawer.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view throughthe music drawer shown in 'Figure 5, substantially on the line' 6-6'thereof, with the'shutter in an openposition.

Figure 7 is a front view of theffmusic drawer in still anothermodification illustratf i ing the'use of a grille atv the 'front opening in place of they shutterV shown'in Figuresj and '6. l

Figure 8 isa diagrammatic plan viewofa modification of the invention showing the unitary electric arrangement for both the piano playermechanism and wireless receiving installation.

In the drawingswe4 have". illustrated a. grand piano, in this instance an electrically operated player-grand piano.v Thecase l of the grand -piano is provided with a music drawer 2 slidably mounted upon' longitudinal guides 3 'at the lower portion of the body of the case 1. The drawer 2 ispreferably divided into a plurality yof compartments, designated 4, 5 and 6.. The compartments 5 and areadapted to prov-ide a housing for the music roll trackingymechanism 7 and playing motor 8, respectively, andfor other parts 4vof the player mechanism with which the grand piano yis equipped.' The drawer`2 isadapted to `be moved to open and closed positions, as` shown in vFigures ytand 2, re-

spectively, and in 'this instance is constructed so that whenclosed it appears to be an integral part of the piano case 1. y e l 'lhe operative parts yof the wirelessreceiving apparatus are adapted to 'be located subn portion 13 of the drawer 2 ktoan accessible stantially within thel compartment 4k of the drawer 2 so that when the drawer is lin'its,

apparatus includesA preferably an amplifying reproducingdevice, which may be. an

electromagnetic device, designated 1,0, havingV an amplifying horn 11. In this instance we construct the amplifying horn so that it is adapted to be disposed in a substantially hori`` zontal 'position within `the "compartment 4, withfthe kbell of the horn directed outwardly and upwardly beyond the end lof the panel board vat the front ofA the rreceptacleor drawer 2. The neck of the amplifying horn 1l is adapted to'extend substantially.through p N ment-s, thus greatly sim the rearward end 13 of the: drawer 2 to afford connection for the fvelectromagnetic reproducer device 10. Thepanel board 1 5 is adapted to bey positioned within the compartment 4 above the amplifying horn 11'and this planel'board 15 is providedfwith theusual points of location for the usual necessary Aoperative parts of the `wireless receiving apparatus which we disposeabout the amplifying horn 11,'entirely within ythe drawer 2, asilllirstrated generally at 9'. These partshowever'constitute no'partof the invention as such, and are not specifically described herein.' y l l y a y ,a y. .a

kVvthin lthe piano casel, preferably at the rearward portion thereof, `we locate one v or more vsources ofelectric energyffor the wireless receiving installation,herein shown asa :plurality of batteries 16 and 17, which may be of any suitable number or character. The -batteries 16 and 17 are provided .with sets of'` electrical conductors 18 and 19, `respectively, situated preferably atv the lower portion ofthe piano casev 1 and adapted to be connected to points of contact for the' wireless receiving apparatus, in thisinstanoe the vacuum tube conductor terminals 20and electromagnetic amplifying reproducer terminals 21 which project through the rearward position at the-rear of the drawer. YWe pr`ovide setsof conductors 1 8 and 19`offsuch character that they same are suited to this invention, being flexible, and of sufficient length and of such character that when tliedrawer 2 i'sin a' closed or partly closed position, as for instance seen in Figure r2, the conductors are 'adapted to form `into' coils 22 andv 23,

respectively, behind the drawer 2, so that they effective length of theA conductors-is adapted to bey decreased. 'Vhen the drawer 2 is in an open 'positi'om as seenA in Figure 4, ythe conductors are adapted to be extended vto increasedlengtli without producing any disturbance'of any part of the installation.

By the construction and arrangement j ust described the wireless apparatus is adapted to be etfectually concealed within the case of "the grand piano without any substantial yal-A y source ofentertainment withoutk in lteration visible at the exterior so that there is no outwardy evidenceof the presence of the wireless receiving apparatus. The wireless receiving apparatusis adapted to be bodily 'moved to withdrawn operative position for f use when desired'y without in anyway effecting any disturbance ofk the operative connectionsy or mechanism and ywhen, so withdrawn a person has presented to vhis View, and directly inconvenient juxtaposition in front ofliim,'both'the wireless receiving apparatus and the voperating partsfof the player mecha- 11.15111 0f thePiano; S0l thetbeth er@A readily accessible,y and'ether may ,beoperated as,

may suit thepersons whimorclfioice'f, without opening any separate 4 p n ifying and improvingthe instrument for itsvpractical use asa Y Y earner detracting from its'aestliet-ic appearance vas an. accessory vof beaut which it may be located?V n Y..

" Referring paracaiariy, to' Figui-esl i5 and 6,' we have'in this instance 'constructed the music drawer 2 so that the portion of the toy the; prenrises` yin front board 24 opposite the com iarti'nent 4 ,i

is equippedwitha movable pane jorshutter 25, suitably` pivotedmas sliowniat 2 6. 'The bell of the horn l1 isin this instai'icedrected outwardly to the front of the drawer' 2 nsteadof rto the to as in, the' modification previously describe so that'tlie drawer V,may

bemantained in, ay closed position during operation of the wireless receiving apparatus. The shutter 25 is `'adaptedto benioved kto different positions,k one of whichv is illus- IDL! trated in Figure 6, to ell'cctauy desired modiilation of the volume of "soundemitted through the' amplifying horn, Vand in its normal position is adapted to cover vthe'bfell of the horn and, asy well, to constitute the front wall ofthe receptacle or drawer 2, f In'this `v modification bead mouldings l are preferably'situated at various points on the front board '24, and these be'admouldiiigs tend toy effect `substantial concealment of fthe f 's'hutle paratus; f .y y i n I In Figure 7 we illustrate afurther modified construction ofthe music drawer frontbo'ard ter `25, andhencethe wireless 'receiving ap- 24, in which 'we also direct theV amplifying n hornto the front, Vas in Figui-e6, butin which a' 'suitablek grille28 issubstit'uted for the' "pivoted shut-ter' 25. The grille may be of removable character. Bead mouldings 429 f are wireless-receiving apparatus is not'entrely tion like that already described.

Aalso preferably used inthis instance.i In this modification, however, the pr'esenceof the A Referring ,further to Figures 2, 3 and 4, we have illustrated the utilization of parts of Vthe grand'piano as a' necessaryjad'funct ofthe ywireless receiving apparatus.

l y n this 'iinstance we arrange for a, wireless'receiving so V'panels yor coinpart- P e so apparatus requiring an aerial or antenna and adapt the string plate and its attached piano wires or strings, designated 30, as an aerial. As .shown at 31 the string plate is suitably connected to the aerial connector 32 at the rearward side of the rearward drawer portion 13, by means of a lead in or conductor 33. rl`his lead in is adapted to coil behind the drawer 2 in the same manner as the con ductors 18 and 19, as seen in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 8, we illustrate an application of the unitary electric connection for a plurality of electrically operated instruments associated in a combined relationship but adapted tobe operated selectively through the same sourceY of power.. In this instance the batteries 16 and 17 are dispensed with and the necessary care and upkeep of the' same are eliminated, and a suitable trans former device, designated 34, is substituted for the batteries. The electrically 'operated grand piano is equipped with a main power circuit, comprising circuit wires 35 adapted to supply electric energy to the transformer 34, as suitably indicated at 36, and to the suction motor 37 of the player mechanism of the piano, as suitably indicated at 38. The

power wires 35 are adapted to extend to the exterior of the piano case 1an-d terminate in a single connector 39, which may be a plug or other suitable deviceV which is adapted to be connected to an electric circuit of the' premises in which the instrument is located. The transformer 34 is of a type adapted to effect alteration ofthe current flowfrom the unitary source to a degree adaptable for use with the wireless receiving apparatus which ditl'ers from the degree required for the suction motor 37 i This unitary installation simplifies and im.- proves the construction of the grand piano, and the construction is adapted to be used, as well, with instruments other than a grand piano, such for instance as an upright piano equipped with Wireless receiving apparatus.

` A suitable switch 40 is provided at its customary location for elfecting operation of the player mechanism of the piano. Suitable switches 41 and 42 are also provided at any suitable location for the conductors 43 and 44 leading from the transformer 34 to the amplifying reproducer mechanism 45 andvacuum tube connectors 46, respectively.` The conductors 43 and 44 are adapted to form in coils when the music drawer 2 is in its inward or closed position as hereinbefore referred to.

In this instance the installation has` also been shown as including the use of the string plate and strings 47 of the piano as an aerial, suitably connected to the wireless receiving apparatus, as .by the lead-in 48, which, also, is adapted to coil for the same purpose as the other conductors.

lWhile the transformer device 34 has been illustrated herein as replacing all the batteries commonly used with a wireless receiving installation, it is understood thatwhere a plurality of batteries of different voltage or other characteristics would ordinarily be used with the wireless receiving apparatus the transformer device 34 may be employed to eliminate but one set of batteries, such for instance as the wet or ystorage batteries, and such dry batteries as it may be desired to use may be suitably located within the piano case in the manner illustrated in Figures 2,

3 Vand 4. Y

Vhat We claim is l 1. Inl a cabinet for aradio receiving installation, in combination, a stationary case, a shallow yreceptacle supported bysaid case,

said receptacle arranged for movement in a horizontal planey away from said stationary case vto an exposed positionat the front of the case, said receptacle havingrear and opposite side portions, an amplifying horn in said receptacle and movable therewith, said horn arranged to extend horizontally from said rear portion and between said side portions with its bell at the front of said receptacle, radio receiving apparatus disposed about said amplifying horn, a stationary source of electric energy in said case, and

devices connecting said stationarysource of y electric energy with the radio receiving apparatus in said movable receptacle in both closed and open positions of said receptacle.

2. A cabinet for radio apparatus comprisf ing, in combination, a stationary case, a shallow receptacle mounted to slide in a horizontal plane toward and away from said stationary case, said receptacle having rear and opposite side portions, radio receiving apparatus in said-receptacle, said radio receiving' apparatus including an amplifying horn extending horizontally from said rear portion and between said side portions with the bell of said horn at the front of said receptacle, a closure for the front of said receptacle, said closure displaceable in all positions of said receptacle, a stationary source ofy electric energy in said case, and devices connecting said stationary source of electric Lenergy with the radio receiving apparatus in said sli-dable receptacle in all positions of the latter.

Intestimony whereof, we have signed this specification. 1 g

- JUSTUS HATTEMER.

LOUIS C. KALING. 

